Car crash wounds haunt ‘Bounty Hunter’ Lee Min-ho

Injuries that Korean heartthrob Lee Min-ho sustained in a car mishap about 10 years ago have come to haunt the superstar, exempting him from serving in the active duty military service.

Lee Min-ho, who is believed to be dating Korean candy Bae Suzy, will instead be working for two years as public service personnel, Manila Bulletin reported. However, no date has been announced on his enlistment. According to a report, the horrific car accident happened in August 2006 when Lee Min-ho was just 19-year-old and a fledgling actor.

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He and fellow actor Jung Il-woo embarked on a trip to Gangwon province in South Korea with friends. However, a vehicle crashed into their car that killed their driver and a passenger and seriously injured Lee Min-ho and Jung Il-woo, Korean news site Dispatch said. Lee Min-ho was bedridden for months after the crash as he suffered serious leg injuries. His thigh and ankle bones suffered fractures and his knee cartilage was torn due to the mishap. During the emergency operation, a 46 cm metal implant was put in his thigh. Because of this, his legs have different lengths, Manila Bulletin reported.

Jung Il-woo suffered concussion, brain hemorrhage and partial amnesia. In 2011, Lee met with yet another car accident during the shooting of the drama ‘City Hunter’. Even while actor Lee is getting ready for his new movie ‘Bounty Hunters’ that will hit the screens this July, local media outlets, including Asia One, reported that Lee would perform civilian service instead of enlisting in the army. In a recent interview with a Chinese media outlet, he mentioned his next SBS drama would be his last before enlistment. It may be noted that Korean star Song Joong-ki made his grand comeback to Korean drama from the mandatory two-year military service taking on the role of Captain Yoo Si-jin in the mega-hit KBS drama ‘Descendants of the Sun’ that swept Asia.

Meanwhile, upcoming South Korean blockbuster-melodrama ‘Uncontrollably Fond’ that stars Kim Woo-bin and Lee Min-ho’s girlfriend Bae Suzy is set to get a simultaneous broadcast in five countries across the world. Find more about ‘Uncontrollably Fond’ here.